This forthcoming 2-CD plus book set looks intriguing:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/8493968633/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/8493968633/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE)re
There is also an interesting CD of music by this composer on Claves:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Menetrier-Lamento-Fantaisie-etc/dp/B0000AKQI1/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1358892143&sr=1-3 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Menetrier-Lamento-Fantaisie-etc/dp/B0000AKQI1/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1358892143&sr=1-3)
I remember a review of a CD of his music awhile back- maybe it was the Pierre Verany CD of a trio and some quartets that was released back in 1999, maybe something else; there have been a few. Seemed intriguing yes. (Apparently a CD has also been released of his Mélodies, another of a large poem for violin and orchestra, and a recent one of piano music - these three it seems with , according to some libraries, not much publication information?? (or at least the violin/orchestra Le Menetrier didn't) and the others with Paris assumed but not specified, "EuropéArt : distrib. Intégral distribution", the rest in brackets...
besides the others mentioned and some others in which a work of his appears in compilations...)
Thank you, Eric.
His Oriental Fantasy is a standard clarinet recital piece. It's pretty nice (and recorded on this disc FWIW http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Charles-Lenepveu/Composer/170701-1).
Might be interested in hearing more.
Alan,
I think you may have inadvertently duplicated the 'book' link instead of inserting the CLAVES one.
I've recently downloaded that CD (from e-music) and must admit the music is, whilst not profound, most enjoyable. Pity downloads mean that most of the time (CHANDOS, HYPERION, NAXOS and one or two others honourably excepted) you miss-out on the booklet notes!
Best wishes
Richard
Many thanks, Richard. Duly amended.
Thanks, Alan, for pointing out these Max d'Ollone CDs. The timing couldn't be better as I am now working on a French Concerto Discography and I love adding new composers to the roster.
We'll look forward to consulting your new discography, Mike.
Dear all,
I had the occasion to listen to some extracts of this 2 cd book, and I'm looking forward to be able to listen to the whole thing.
One curiosity of the set is D'Ollone's orchestration of Spozializio by Liszt, an orchestration I found a bit strange and stylistically questionable.
I specially recommend the cantata Frédégonde, with which D'Ollone won the Prix de Rome.
:)
Thanks, M. Couton, and welcome to UC!
I assume you are the conductor featured on the superb recent recording of Rabaud's 2nd Symphony...
:)
Well, Mr. Howe, I am the conductor of this Rabaud recording (I don't fully agreed with the term "superb" but anyway thanks for the compliment).
By the way, Rabaud and d'Ollone were best friends and I could listen to some pieces of the D'Ollone while being with Mr. Michel Rabaud, grandson of Henri and incidentally one of the best friends of Patrice d'Ollone, grandson of Max. Life is full of surprises!
How fascinating. It's certainly good to have you with us at UC!
On this occasion, Nicolas Couton, I feel no awkwardness in being in complete disagreement with you. I find the Rabaud disc quite superb! It has been fascinating to discover this symphony, together with the other two pieces on the disc.
Through the medium of this forum I offer you sincere thanks for performing and recording this quite unknown music. I very much hope you might have equally interesting works in your future recording plans.
That's kind of you :)
Of course I have new good projects but for the moment I'm looking for money to finance them. ::)
Received today!
Good news for non speaking French, the very interesting libretto -texts by Alexandre Dratwicki and Patrice d'Ollone- is now also in English.
Gorgeous romantic music, especially "Les villes maudites", a kind of symphonic poem written in 1899 for a very large orchestra.
:)
How's this? :)
(Jpc lists a 2-CD recording of Ollone choral music including the latter from Herve Niquet but I assume you are referring to something even newer still- or maybe that since maybe that hasn't been released yet, not positive?... )
Yes, I'm talking about this disc-book conducted by Hervé Niquet.
I have just received this set - without having realised that it consists not only of two CDs, but a hardback book on the composer and the Prix de Rome. This really shows how an unsung composer and his music can be presented.
The music strikes me very much as Massenet plus, with the shade of Wagner somewhere in the background. If you like the late-Romantic choral/orchestral repertoire, you're going to love this. Utterly gorgeous.
If there are those like me who are not especially interested in the hard cover book that accompanies this offering, Amazon USA now offers the 2 CDs as a download for US$19.98. It would be nice, however, if they were to include scans of the labels or the page showing what's ON the cds. The list of movements is not particularly helpful.
Jerry
And for those who aren't inclined to pursue the cantatas, or buy the two CD set plus book, you might try a Claves disc (I recollect it was released about 10 years ago?) of some orchestral music conducted by the reliable Lawrence Foster.
It contains the Fantaisie for piano & orchestra (quite a little charmer); Lamento (which maybe goes on just a little too long for its short duration); and Le Menetrier for violin & orchestra.
True the music is gorgeous enough (late dense French romanticism with distant Wagnerian murmurings), and you sit there with that 'Gosh, why haven't I heard this music before?' feeling. But then a short time afterwards you become conscious that none of it has much penetrated the mind. I don't know whether that is a comment on the music or my mind.
Quote from: petershott@btinternet.com on Sunday 12 May 2013, 22:32
And for those who aren't inclined to pursue the cantatas, or buy the two CD set plus book, you might try a Claves disc...
A link to this CD is featured in my initial post...
Quote from: jerfilm on Sunday 12 May 2013, 21:14
If there are those like me who are not especially interested in the hard cover book that accompanies this offering, Amazon USA now offers the 2 CDs as a download for US$19.98. It would be nice, however, if they were to include scans of the labels or the page showing what's ON the cds. The list of movements is not particularly helpful.
Pft. Feel lucky it tells you who the composer is. Everyone knows the only important thing is the 'artist'. It tells you the 'song' titles, that should be enough!
You've touched on a perenniel thorn there. Just why most download sites think that treating classical music lovers with contempt (in the way they label and list things) is good for business, who knows! 'Presto' and 'Classical Archives' are a couple of very honourable exceptions.
I must confess I use e-music a lot as they are very cheap at 42 pence per track regardless of length (except for something consisting of lots of short tracks, this is good value) but finding stuff on their web-site (other than obscure composers with few entries) can be a nightmare!
I suspect all these sites use 'artist-oriented' software (and/or staff) and the amount of classical sales doesn't seem to warrant us being treated with respect. The RED catalogue (or anything similar) as an industry standard would help but I suspect 'fat chance'!
End of rant!
Cheers
Richard
Meant to add this note at the start of my previous note (before Alan/Mark are tempted to censor it as 'off topic').
Having managed recently to find and download the Claves album (from e-music), it was that which triggered the previous comments (even though in fairness, finding these tracks wasn't too bad).
However, trying to stay true to the theme of this thread, what an absolute delight it has been to listen to this music (several times already). Not deep music but so pleasant it never feels it has outstayed its welcome. I can unreservedly recommend a listen (or even a purchase) it to any other member of this forum.
Best wishes
Richard
Well, I did get it figured out. Amazon does show both sides of the box (?) and you can point to it and enlarge it. I had no luck trying to save it as a jpeg or other photo - too out of focus. So I kept Amazon up in one window while I renamed the tracks in another.
The choral works is a delightful set - nothing too heavy - I thought i heard hints of Puccini but that's proably my imagination.
All this monkey business was necessary since the track markings give helpful hints like "Prelude"........
J
Wandering rather far afield here, as I don't know d'Ollone's music (but am always glad of the opportunity to discover someone new), but I honestly suspect it's lack of familiarity with classical music that's the culprit rather than anything else. If you think about it, classical music is about the only field where the composer's name is generally as important as, if not more than, the title of the piece, or the artist's name (I realize I'm generalizing here, but as the great Dave Barry would say, I don't care.) And most of our terminology is different - "piece" or "movement" for an individual track, rather than "song". (How often do I hear someone refer to "my favorite classical song" instead of "piece"?) It's not lack of respect; I think it's lack of knowledge/understanding.
By pure coincidence I just discovered this site (which is great as lesser-known composers are our main raison-d'etre!) while working on a new CD of piano trios including the d'Ollone Trio in A minor. Lovely work and my first ever exposure to the composer. I run Divine Art Records which specialises in rare and new music so I look forward to getting some of our musicans on here for programme inspiration.... and I promise to try not to do too much self-promotion........
Good to have you with us, Stephen.
Quote from: StephenSutton on Wednesday 22 May 2013, 19:33
I look forward to getting some of our musicans on here for programme inspiration....
Excellent idea!
If you're working on the d'Ollone Pf Trio then at least this member of the forum wouldn't object in the least to unending self-promotion, Stephen!
Of d'Ollone's chamber music I know just a few works: the early String Quartet in D; the Pf Quartet in E minor; and String Trio in A minor. Each a lovely and immensely satisfying work.
I shall look forward very much to your CD of Pf Trios, including the d'Ollone in A minor. (I don't suppose you can reveal its partners on the forthcoming CD?)
A long time has passed I think since we last discussed Max'd'Ollone but I thought members might be interested in some new recordings (on YOUTUBE),performed by the William and Mary Symphony Orchestra (in Virginia).
The conductor, David Grandis, has been working with Max's grandson Patrick to bring to life works never heard of either for a long time or at all.
The works I've found so far are:
LES VILLES MAUDITES (also on Bru Zanes'release, I believe), LES FUNÉRAILLES DU POÈTE and LE TEMPLE ABANDONNÉ (these last two are stated to be world premier performances (excluding their original outings a century ago'.
Haven't yet listened but having enjoyed his previously released orchestral works, I'm hoping these too are as entertaining.
As well as the YOUTUBE notes accompanying the videos, there is some further background to be found via this link:
https://florentschmitt.com/2019/09/04/french-american-conductor-david-grandis-talks-about-discovering-the-music-of-french-composer-max-dollone-and-championing-his-music-in-the-concert-hall/
Just a heads up for you but any additional details welcome if anyone has them.
Best wishes
Richard
This post made me have a listen to his fantaisie for Pno & Orch. What a perfectly concise work. It has no rambling "filler" passages and dead spots.
As is the Violin Concerto/Symphonic Poem Le Ménétrier (The Minstrel) from 1911.
Most of it I find very attractive, but unfortunately d'Ollone's orchestral works are rather difficult to get performed because of his unfortunate choices (in hindsight) of genre. The Fantaisie is too short at 13 minutes (alas, don't get me started about the demise of the Konzertstück); the scènes lyriques, orchestral songs, cantatas and chorales are uncommon genres for a modern concert hall; at just under 20 minutes, the wonderful symphonic poem Les villes maudites is really too long for the overture slot but too short to be the major orchestral piece of the evening (not even counting the required choir). Le Ménétrier may the only work I know of his to have a realistic shot at revival in the concert halls. That's a pity, because a lot of his music is tuneful and driven, yet contemplative in a way somewhere between Pierné and Tournemire. Of course, there's also quite a lot of chamber music, which is all just wonderful.